Dec 30, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant (3) kicks the game winning 37-yard field goal as Atlanta Falcons punter Matt Bosher (5) holds the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as time expires to end the game at Raymond James Stadium. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
After the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 34-32, on a Matt Bryant field goal as time ran out on Sunday, the Bucs’ organization waited only a couple of hours before releasing head coach Dirk Koetter, who finished a three-year reign with a 19-29 mark.
But, the record was not indicative of the kind of coach that Koetter is. He is a class individual with a deep knowledge of not only the Xs and Os, but how to run an entire NFL organization. He also had the kind of respect in the Buccaneers’ locker room that is generally saved for teams that win championships.
Koetter came into the season in the middle of a rebuild and started without quarterback Jameis Winston, who would eventually take over the controls in Week 4 after Tampa Bay started 2-1 and with wins over New Orleans and Philadelphia.
After the game, still a couple of hours before Koetter’s status was announced, player after player in the postgame locker room expressed the desire to bring him back for a fourth season as head coach.
Koetter is a player’s coach and he called a very aggressive offense that saw the Buccaneers hit new heights behind quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick early in the season. Winston took over and accentuated the effectiveness of Koetter’s attack in the same way. Tampa Bay came into Sunday’s game with the top pass offense in the NFL and the Bucs were third in total offense.
“We’ve got a great locker room; we’ve got a lot of great guys,” acknowledged Koetter. “Over the time that I’ve been here with (GM) Jason Licht, he’s put together an awesome group of guys in there.”
There was a feeling in the postgame that everyone was resigned to Koetter being released. It was a quiet locker room as players seemed to lament what was inevitable.
Wide receiver Mike Evans is one of the players who grew under Koetter’s tutelage. He finished with 1,524 receiving yards which is his best season and his 86 catches are the second best of his five year career.
“The fans might put stuff on him and the coaches and that’s how sports work,” said Evans. “They always look at the head coach, but he’s an awesome guy. I’m very fortunate to have played for him and met him. He took my game to new heights and I’m looking forward to every year, stepping up.”
Second-year wide out Chris Godwin is another offensive player who saw his game take off under Koetter. He had his best game of the season on Sunday with 114 yards on six catches, while reeling in two touchdown passes off the arm of Winston. It was his first multi-touchdown day.
“He was the one who gave me the opportunity to play in this league,” explained Godwin of being selected early in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. “I’m forever grateful for that. He’s a great man, a great leader. He always keeps it real with us and you know, as players we respect that a lot.”
The Buccaneers never could reverse a (-18) turnover ratio which was 31st in the NFL. That number wore on the team in close losses as six of the 11 losses were by seven points or less.
“It started after the first couple of games, the offense turning it over,” explained Koetter. “We went through that long stretch of six games, or whatever it was, where we didn’t get any turnovers. No matter what anybody says, that’s still the number one thing to do with winning and losing in the NFL.”
As Koetter’s postgame news conference started to wind down, he seemed like he was not conceding, but potentially prepping everyone for what was to come. He thanked coaches, players, the Glazer family, as he once again displayed the class that he has shown throughout a career that has spanned seven different stops in college and three NFL positions.
“Whatever is going to happen is going to happen,” explained Koetter, who wanted to fulfill his contract. “That’s just the way this business works. I appreciate – if this is the last one for me – I appreciate the opportunity they gave me. It’s awesome to be a head football coach in the NFL. Coaching in the NFL period, is awesome. It’s the best of the best.”
